Special to the American Press

The Louisiana Office of Tourism’s “Explore Louisiana” float has won the Showmanship Award for a second year in a row during the 135th Rose Parade held in Pasadena, Calif. Jan. 1. The award represents showmanship and entertainment.

This year’s parade theme was “Celebrating a world of music: The universal language.”

“Louisiana is a perfect fit for the theme of music. We will kick off our new marketing campaign, Year of Music, in 2024 with this parade,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser in a press release. “Our riders this year represent the celebratory spirit of Louisiana and our performers are bringing authentic Louisiana flare.”

Louisiana’s 2024 Rose Parade float featured a larger-than-life Mardi Gras jester, fleur-de-lis, second-line inspired umbrellas, and lots of purple, green and gold. Louisiana’s rolling performance included all the sights and sounds of a Louisiana Mardi Gras. Performing were Grammy-nominated Zydeco musician Sean Ardoin, Cajun fiddler Amanda Shaw, and legendary guitarist James Burton.

This is the third consecutive year Louisiana has participated in the parade. In 2022, that float received the Wrigley Legacy award for outstanding display of floral presentation, float design and entertainment.

This year’s riders represent a variety of genres of music Louisiana either created or influenced throughout history.

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Louisiana’s 2024 Rose Parade float riders included:

• Sidney “Big Sid” Williams; owner, El Sid O’s Zydeco & Blues Club (Lafayette Travel – Premier Sponsor)

• Katrice Lacour; Zydeco musician (Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau – Premier Sponsor)

• Curtis Doucette Jr.; Lead developer of renovations at Dew Drop Inn (New Orleans & Company – Premier Sponsor)

• Kasia Trepagnier; Actress/Producer (Tangipahoa Convention & Visitors Bureau – Premier Sponsor)

• Kennidy Elizabeth Ann Peavy; 2023 Southwest Louisiana Miss Queen Mardi Gras (Visit Lake Charles – Premier Sponsor)

• James Burton; Legendary guitarist (Visit Shreveport-Bossier – Premier Sponsor)

• Amanda Shaw; Cajun fiddler (Visit The Northshore – Premier Sponsor)

• Jordyn Finlyn Kelley; 64th Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival Queen (Calcasieu Parish)

• Laura Jane Kirkpatrick; Miss Louisiana’s Teen 2023 (Baton Rouge)

• Zharia Lemar; Miss Festival of the Bonfires XXXIII (St. James Parish – selected by First Lady-elect Sharon Landry)

• Destiny Wilrye; 2023 Miss Ragley Heritage and Timber Festival (Beauregard Parish – selected by First Lady-elect Sharon Landry)

The Tournament of Roses Parade was broadcast live all over the world at 8 a.m. Pacific on New Year’s Day through broadcast partners, including ABC and NBC.